The Dust奴r al-munajjim墨n is one of the few surviving Ismaili books dating back to the period of 岣san-i 峁bb膩岣, the founder of the Ismaili state in Iran. Mostly comprising an astronomical and chronological anthology, it was completed in the fortress of Alam奴t in 506/1113 before the demise of 岣san-i 峁bb膩岣 in 518/1124. It is not known whether or not it was one of the works retrieved by the historian Juwayn墨 when the library was burned by the Mongols at the taking of Alam奴t in 654/1256.
The unknown author of Dust奴r al-munajjim墨n provides an account in Arabic of books and treatises held at the Alam奴t library as well as the sciences practised by the Persian Niz膩r墨 IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Ja士far al-峁⒛乨iq (d. 765), as his successor. during the time of 岣san-i 峁bb膩h. It includes an array of sciences from mathematics, astronomy and astrology, to political theory, hadith and history. In particular it covers Ismaili history up to the time of Niz膩r b. al-Mustan峁r (d. 488/1095), progenitor of the Nizari Ismaili Imams.
This invaluable work, referenced often by scholars of Ismaili studies and previously available only in terms of its unique manuscript (MS arabe 5968, Biblioth猫que nationale de France), is here published in facsimile for the first time.